Well clean-out tool



Oct. 22, 1968 A. B. BAUMSTIMLER 3,406,757

WELL CLEAN-OUT TOOL Filed July 19,. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l AUG/JST B. AUMST/MLEE -NVENTOR BYfMARCl/ L. BATES Oct. 22, 1968 A. B. BAUMSTIMLr-:R 3,406,757

WELL CLEAN OUT TOOL Filed July 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .y/ l `5@ l r '/2 l, fas. 63- lI T l if, 7

70` i I :65 m' "98 ZT 57-`\ '5i W I. i. \6/ Il I /60 f III i I ia r "ff Anm/5T m/MsT/m- INVENTOR.

BY: MPCUS L. BATES United States Patent O 3,406,757 WELL lCLEAN-OUF TOOL August B. Baumstirnler, 4101 Mankins, (Messa, Tex. 79760 Filed July 19, 1967, Ser. No. 654,453 7 Claims. (Cl. 16d-99) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLQSURE A Well clean-out tool for retrieving junk or undesired objects from the bottom of a well. The tool may be run into an oil well or the like by a drill pipe or a wire line, and includes a junk section at the lower end thereof, a chamber having a check valve associated therewith, a relief valve for controlling the internal pressure of the tool, and a metering device in the form of an orifice which is interposed between the relief valve and valve unit. The valve unit is actuated by a splined lost-motion coupling device which is interposed between the valve element of the valve unit and the drill pipe. The splined lost motion coupling enables rotation of the drill stern to impart rotational motion to the tool which in turn centers the junk at the bottom of the hole with respect to the inlet to the junk section.

Background Various well clean-out tools are known in the art. Many devices of the prior art are adapted for use in shallow water wells and the like and generally depend upon the reciprocatory action of the drill stern, or the cable tool, to cause any loose debris to be admixed with the well fluid, whereupon the debris, along with the lluid, flows into the tool. The lower extremity of the tool is generally provided with a check valve which is upset to the open position when the tool strikes the bottom of the bore hole.

Well clean-out tools for the same general purposes of the instant invention are also known. These tools depend upon the pressure differential between the bottom of the bore hole and the interior of the tool to provide the means by which the debris, along with the well fluid, is forced into the tool. Generally, these devices are actuated by a motion of the drill stem which upsets a valve arrangement to thereby allow a sudden surge of fluid to flow into the device. The valve arrangement associated with tools of the prior art do not always perform satisfactorily inasmuch as a suitable seal has been lacking and accordingly, as the tool is returned to the surface, a substantial amount of the debris is lost from the tool.

In some tools of the -prior art, the long column of fluid contained therewithin presents a sufficient liquid head to cause leakage from the tool as it is returned to the surface. Furthermore, in high pressure (or very deep) wells, the fluid flow into the tool occurs with an excessive release of energy thereby causing the tool to jump off the bottom, whereby junk or debris fails to enter the junk section of the tool. This is especially so when a wire line is used to run the tool into the hole.

Summary The present invention includes a Well clean-out tool having a valve unit at the upper extremity thereof which is directly actuated by reciprocatory motion of the drill tubing or the like. The valve unit includes a resilient valve element which is urged or biased into seating relationship against a replaceable seat member. The internal pressure of the tool is controlled by a relief valve in order to prevent damage to the tool when coming out of the hole. The relief valve is spaced apart from the valve unit to provide a fluid containing chamber there- 3,405,757 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 ICC between. A metering device in the form of an orifice is interposed between the valve unit and the relief valve in order to control sudden pressure surges. Spaced apart from and located below the relief valve is a third valve which provides a third fluid chamber. An enlarged charnber having a junk basket near the inlet or entrance of the tool forms the terminal end of the device and provides the tool with means by which large debris may be trapped within the device. The valve is actuated by a splined lost motion coupling which enables reciprocatory motion of the drill stem to upset the valve to the opened position, while at the same time allows the drill stern to impart rotational motion to the entire tool in order to center any junk contained in the bottom of the hole with respect to the junk basket.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a well clean-out tool which is actuated in response to movement of a wire line or a drill string to which the tool may be attached.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved valve assembly for a well clean-out tool.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a well clean-out tool which is fabricated into a number of sub-components which enables rapid assembly and disassembly thereof, to thereby expedite cleaning the tool after it has been used in removing debris from a well.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a Well clean-out tool having means associated therewith which functions in a manner to improve the operation of the tool as well as to protect the various components of the tool from the high pressures associated with a deep well.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a well clean-out tool having an orice associated therewith which improves the stability of the tool when it is used in high pressure applications.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a hex lost motion coupling which enables reciprocatory or longitudinal motion of the supporting means to upset a valve means, while at the same time allows rotational motion of the supporting means to impart rotational motion to the tool.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a well clean-out tool which is fabricated from a number of subcomponents to provide a junk catching section, a smaller section having a check valve interposed between the junk section and the main valve section, and a main valve section having a valve element therein which is upset to the open position by the action of the drill stem, and which is moved to the closed position by the action of the drill stern. The internal pressure of the tool is determined by a relief valve element. The valve unit includes a splined lost-motion coupling located between the drill stem and the valve stem, and includes a resilient member which is urged into seating relationship against a replaceable valve seat.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a general View of a well clean-out tool with some parts broken away in order to better illustrate the entire device;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary representation of a portion of the device seen in FIGURE l, with some parts being broken away so as to disclose the interior thereof, and other parts being broken away and shown in section in order to better describe the details thereof;

FIGURE 3 is also an enlarged fragmentary representation of part of the device seen in FIGURE l, With some' parts being broken away and shown in section in order to better illustrate the details thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional representation taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4, with some of the parts being shown in perspective;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 5; and,

FIGURE 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 5.

Brief description of the preferred embodiments FIGURE 1 illustrates an oil well tool as generally indicated by the arrow at numeral 20, which is attached to the lower terminal end of a drill pipe 22 and includes a first valve section 24. The valve section is connected to the before mentioned drill pipe or tubing by means of a splined valve actuator 26, which preferably is hexagonal in crosssectionl A relief valve assembly 28 interconnects a trap section 29 with a junk section 30, with the lower extremity of the junk section providing the inlet to the tool.

Looking now to the details of FIGURES 2 through 8, wherein there is disclosed in greater detail the before mentioned lower terminal end of the drill string7 22, having threads 32 thereon, which rigidly attaches the string to a coupling 34. The coupling 34 is provided with threads 36 which rigidly engages the before mentioned splined valve actuator 26. The term splined is intended to include any geometrical cross-sectional pattern which precludes relative movement between the actuator and the remainder of the tool.

The first valve section 24 includes an upper cylindrical member 37, a centrally located cylindrical member 38, and a lower cylindrical member 39. Members 37 and 38 are threadedly secured to each other by means of threads 40. Members 38 and 39 are secured together by means of threads 42. The valve actuator is held attached to the first valve section by means of enlargement 44. The enlargement 44 reciprocates between the limits provided by upper and lower stop means 46 and 48 respectively. Depending from the enlargement 44 is a polished section 49 which terminates at 50. The polished portion of the valve actuator reciprocates within a packing gland 52 which is held suitably tightened by the before mentioned stop means 48, which therefore also serves as a packing nut. Accordingly, the valve actuator 26 is reciprocatingly received by the first valve section 24 wherein the actuator guidably reciprocates within section 37, packing nut 48, packing 52, and the drilled passageway of member 38. Since the hex shaped valve actuator is slidably received in close fitting tolerance by a female member 37 having an internally hex shaped passageway therein, rotational motion of drill stem 22 imparts rotational motion to the tool. While the illustrated actuator is preferably hex shaped, it should -be understood that any splined connection will serve this same purpose, as pointed out above.

The lower member of the first valve section includes an enlarged passageway 54 which houses compressed spring 55. The passageway reduces in diameter at 56 in order to provide a chamber within which a valve element 57 may be reciprocated as well as providing a cage for the spring. Other purposes of the chamber will be explained in greater detail later on.

The valve element 57 includes a valve stem 58 which is in the form of a cross, with each arm of the cross radiating from the stem as seen at 59. The valve stern reduces to a rod having a threaded depending end 60 which receives a nut 61 thereon. A resilient valve member 62 ist held captive within a finned housing 64. The force exerted by the nut forces the housing 64 and the stem 58 against the resilient valve member 62, and spring 55 urges the assembly in an upward direction to thereby force the face' 65 against the lower terminal end portion of removable valve seat assembly 66. Assembly 66 is secured to the central member 38 by means of threads 67 to thereby enable rapid replacement thereof when the seat has become worn. The valve engaging seat is on the lower depending end portion of the seat assembly as seen at 68. Accordingly, an annulus 70 is provided between the valve element 57 and the centrally located member 38. A passageway is therefore formed between the chamber 54 and the annulus 7l) by means of the passageway 71 located between the radiating fins which form a part of the housing 64.

The resilient valve member is comprised of a replaceable neoprene rubber seat which is resistant to the deleterious effects of the oil, gas, and mud generally encountered in bore holes. The resilient member is preferred to metals since small debris caught between the face and seat will not prevent the valve from properly seating. The rubber seat is also resistant to the cutting action or erosion which may be encountered in deep wells as a result of fluid carried debris flowing between the valve seat and the valve member.

The lower section of the first valve section is threadedly connected to a second valve section 72 by means of threaded connection 74. An orifice 75 is removably received within the lower terminal end portion of member 39 to regulate the flow of fluid into chamber 54. The second valve section 72 is rigidly attached to the reduced member 76 by means of the threaded connection 77. The opposite end of member 76 is fastened to the sub-assembly 78 by means of the threaded connection 80. The upper extremity of the sub-assembly is provided with the illustrated shoulder which maintains spring 82 in properly aligned relationship. The spring 82 biases a valve element 84 in the upward direction and with a predetermined force to thereby seat the valve element against the illustrated multiplicity of radially spaced passageways 86 which interconnect the passageway 87 (located `below the orifice) with the bore hole. Accordingly, the force exerted by spring 82 determines the magnitude of the pressure differential between chamber 87 and the ambient.

The sub-assembly 78 is connected to the tubing 87 by means of the threads 88. Tubing 87 threadedly engages a check valve carrying member 90 by means of threads 91. The check valve is seen at 92 and cooperates with a valve seat 93 to thereby enable fluid flow in an upward direction while precluding fluid flow in a downward direction. The valve seat enlarges in a downward direction into a passageway 94 which enlarges still again into a passageway located in the junk section 96. The junk section 96 is connected to the tubing 90 by means of the threaded connection seen at numeral 97. A junk basket 98, the details of which are known in the art, is suitably attached within the junk section as seen at 98. The inlet to the apparatus is generally indicated by the arrow at numeral 99.

Operation The clean-out tool, when attached to a support means, such as a drill stem 22, may be run into the well when assembled in the illustrated manner of FIGURE 1. As the inlet 99 strikes the bottom of the bore hole, or the bottom of the casing, the valve actuator 26 will telescope into the cylindrical member 37 and continue in a downward direction to thereby upset the valve assembly when the terminal end S0 abuts the upper terminal end of valve stem 58. This action causes the valve stem 58 to move in a downward direction against valve spring 55, which unseats the valve assembly 57 from the face 68 of valve seat 66, to thereby permit fluid flow to occur into the inlet 99. Fluid, along with any debris contained therein, enters inlet 99 and ows past the junk basket 98.

The well fluid and junk flow through check valve 92 and into the passageway provided within member 87. Junk, consisting of large debris, is caught in section 30 where the junk basket 98 retains the junk therewithin.

The reduced diameter 94 increases the velocity of tiuid iiow to cause smaller debris which failed to separate from the liuid to flow along with the fluid into member 87, where some of the debris remains therewithin, depending upon their size and density.

The still further reduced diameter passageway between members 87 and 76 impart additional velocity to the flowing tiuid, with the uid pressure being primarily regulated by the orifice' 75.

The relief valve 84 is preferably circular in appearance and has a face opposite the spring receiving lshoulder which seats against radially spaced passageways 86 with a force which is proportional to the compressed spring S2. Accordingly, the maximum allowable pressure within chamber 87 is controlled by the relief valve. The primary purpose of the relief valve is to relieve the internal pressure of the tool as the tool is removed from the hole. This is especially important-in high pressure or deep wells.

The size of thel replaceable orifice 75 is selected to control the Huid tiow into chamber 54 in accordance with the Kbottom holewell pressure anticipated to be encountered when the tool is made up. The quick change orifice prevents a sudden surge of fluid into the tool, which might otherwise cause the tool to jump @if the bottom upon actuation of valve 57, to thereby leave junk on the bottom of the hole. This action `is more likely to occur when the tool is run into the hole on a wire line since the dril-l stem or chamber above the valve is limited to a small volume. Therefore, in Wells having a high bottom hole pressure the fluid flow through the tool causes the inlet to jump off the junk whereby the debris fails to enter the junk section. The orifice prevents this action.

Fluid from orifice 75 is received by chamber 54 where it continues to flow through the passageway 71 (FIG- URE 4) of the radially spaced fins 64, into annulus 70, between valve seat 68 and valve element face 65, between the radially spaced ns 59 of valve stem 58, and into the-hollow passage-way of the valve actuator 26. The iiow then enters the hollow drill pipe where it is free to ow toward the surface of the ground until the pressure is equalized or until the tool is lifted in an upward direction to close valve 57.

`Closure of the valve unit is effected by raising the drill pipe vertically upward until gravity permits actuator 26 to assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. This action permits spring 55 to return valve face 65 into seating engagement against face 68. The spring 82 maintains passageways 86 closed at all time, and check valve 92 returns to the closed position. Fluid may now drain from the junk section 29 by means of inlet 99 after the tool is lifted free of the fluid surface contained in the well. H-owever, any junk Iwhich has entered the tool is entrapped `by basket 98 and is held within section 29. Smaller debris that failed to remain Within section 29 will be trapped above check valve 92. Fluid and exceptionally small debris will be located above the orice 75, with some of the debris being left in chamber 54 and other debris being located within the hollow drill pipe.

The debris which returns through relief valve 84 as the tool is returned to the surface is of no import since they are of suiciently small size to be tolerated by the normal operation of the tool.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact -construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A well clean-out tool having an inlet, an outlet, with the outlet ladapted to be connected to the terminal end of a supporting means such as a drill pipe, compris- Cil ing, in combination, a valve unit, a relief valve, a trap, and a junk basket;

means forming a passageway through said tool;

said junk basket being located within said passageway and disposed near said inlet and spaced apart from and below said trap to thereby form a junk containing chamber;

said trap being located in said passageway and including a check valve means disposed below and in spaced apart relationship to said relief valve, to thereby form another junk containing chamber;

said relief valve being located in communication with said passageway and including means controlling fluid pressure within said tool yand disposed below and spaced apart from said valve unit;

Asaid valve unit including a valve element and a valve stem connected to said valve element, a valve seat assembly having a face thereon which cooperates with said element to permit fluid flow when moved to a first position, and to prevent fluid flow when moved to a second position; said valve unit being disposed within said tool and near said outlet; and

a valve actuator means depending from said tool and forming the recited means by which said tool is connected to the supporting means, for actuating the valve unit from the opened to the closed position, and vice versa, in accordance with the relative position of the supporting means with respect to the tool, said actuator having means forming a flow path therethrough which is a continuation of said passageway.

2. The combination of claim 1, and further including means forming an orifice in said passageway for controlling the iiow of fluid from said relief valve to said valve unit.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said valve actuator means is connected to actuate said valve stem by a lost motion coupling means;

said valve stem including an elongated member with fins radiating therefrom for forming a liuid tiow path, a housing affixed to the terminal end of said stem, said housing having tins radiating therefrom to form a passageway across the housing, and for holding said valve element therein, the outer edge portion of said tins fitting in close tolerance relationship with respect to the inside wall surface which forms said passageway;

whereby, a flow path is formed from said relief valve, through said housing fins, through said valve, through said valve stem fins, and into said last motion coupling.

4. The combination of claim 1, and further including a lost motion coupling associated with said valve unit, and having a iirst portion, which includes said valve actuator means, depending from said tool;

an elongated second portion depending from said first portion of said lost motion coupling, said second portion being slidably received in close tolerance relationship within said passageway;

said second portion having an enlargement thereon to thereby form an upper and lower shoulder;

motion limiting means including said upper and lower shoulder for limiting reciprocatory motion of said valve actuator means;

a lower termin-al end portion depending from said enlargement and positioned in spaced apart relationship with respect to the upper depending end of said valve stem; whereby:

vertical downward movement of the supporting means enables said valve element to disengage said valve seat face, and vertical upward movement of the supporting means allows said valve element to engage said valve seat face.

5. The combination of claim 1, and further including a lost motion coupling forming part of said valve act-uator means;

said passageway being splined for a limited distance at the upper terminal end thereof;

said part depending from said tool having an upper terminal end adapted to be aixed to a drill pipe, ya. splined portion received by said splined passage- Way, and further including a lower terminal end spaced apart from said valve stem, with a polished elongated portion located between each end;

said polished portion having an enlargement formed thereon and including an upper and lower face;

means, including said upper and lower face, providing motion limiting means whereby said lost motion `coupling reciprocates a limited distance within said tool; whereby said polished portion of said lost motion coupling cooperates with the drill pipe to thereby move the valve stem to permit ow through said tool, and said splined portion of said lost motion coupling enables rotational motion to be imparted to said tool upon rotation of said part depending from said tool.

6. The combination of claim 5, and further including means forming an orifice, said orifice being removably affixed within said passageway for controlling ow of iiuid through said passageway.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein said valve stem includes an elongated member with ns radiating therefrom for forming a Huid ow path, a housing aixed to the terminal end of said stem, said housing having fins radiating therefrom to form a passageway across the housing, and for holding said valve element therein, the outer edge portion of said tins fitting in close tolerance relationship with respect to the inside wall surface which forms said passageway;

whereby, a ow path is formed from said relief valve,

through said housing fins, through said valve, through said valve stem fins, and into said lost motion coupling.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,124,772 7/1938 Flury 166-99 2,384,090 n 9/ 1945 Hartsell 166-99 2,696,257 12/1954 Clark 166-99 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner.

Disclaimer 3,406,757.-August B. Bauwwtimler, Odessa, TeX. WELL CLEAN-OUT TOOL. Patent dated Oct. 2Q, 1968. Disclaimer led June 19, 1978, by the inventor. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 of said patent.

[Oficial Gazette August 2.9, 1978.]

Dedication 3,406,757.-August B. Baumstimler, Odessa, Tex. WELL CLEAN-OUT TOOL. Patent dated Oct. 22, 1968. Dedication led Jan. 30, 1984, by the inventor.

Hereby dedicates the remaining term of said patent.

[Official Gazette March 12, 1985.] 

